There is some interesting information about the Johnstons and distilleries in Peat, Smoke and Spirit by Andrew Jefford, ISBN 0 7472 2735 7. To give you a taste..... Johnson - "no other family was more important that this one in the early history of distilling on Islay, since Johnstons had a hand in Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Tallant and Bowmore distilleries...." (Laphroaig)"...its founder-farmers, Donald and Alexander Johnston, who began distilling here ...between 1810 and 1816. Their father John, some sources say, had come with his two brothers Roland and Duncan to Islay for quiet refuge and a name change (from MacIan); the trio had backed the English against Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, and had felt it politic to leave their home on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, north of Mull, as a consequence....." It goes on to describe further family history - one Johnson who died after falling into a vat of hot still water, two died heirless and another died leaving three wills and two squabbling branches of the Johnson family. I recommend this book for anyone with family involved in the distilleries of Islay. Cheerio Sue Visser ----- Original Message ----- From: <SKronen266@aol.com> To: <SCT-ISLAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 11:55 AM Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLAY] Re: Johnstons of Laphroaig Hello John, Yes, Alexander Johnston went to Australia in 1837. Information which I received from Lindsay (Lin) Johnston says that he left Greenock 23 July 1837 and arrived Australia 3 Dec. 1837 (On Ship "Portland"). The "founder" Alexander may be two generations back from this Alexander (whose parents were Alexander Johnston/Mary Graham) . Information is murky for back then. I know very little about the Ardbeg Distillery. The book Scotch and Water by Neil Wilson mentions Duncan McDougall, his son John McDougall, and John's children Alexander Mcdougall (d. 1853), Margaret McDougall and Flora McDougall. I don't know where I got it from, but I have a note that Alice McDougall was born at Oa. Sheila in Belleville, Illinois, USA In a message dated 02/07/2006 9:47:29 AM, john.gillies@bigpond.com writes: > Hello Sheila, > > Thank you for the information on Grace et al. Will keep digging and > perhaps > find something. I am descended from Jane Johnston - she was a paternal g > grand mother. > > A few more questions for you. I thought at Alexander Johnston who started > Laphroaig with his brother Donald, had died in 1836. But is seems he came > to > Australia around 1837. Is this correct or am I misreading things? > > Were Isabella and Alice in any way related to the MacDougall family that > ran > Ardbeg Distillery from 1798? > > Thanks also to everyone who took time and interest to reply to my query. > > John Gillies (Sydney) > > > ==== SCT-ISLAY Mailing List ==== Here are some links related to the Isle of Islay: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/islay/links.htm